Oxidized asphalt



pril 23, 1935. E. w. GARD x-:r Al.

oxIDIzED ASPHALT Filed June 8,

GEW K SEQ@ Q ESM. N di@ wzm r H Hu|||||| www MINIMUM H H SS /w N v m Q EEN@ @5x INVENTORS far/e W. Gard S B /air Aldridge, .Y ,m :fi ATTORNEY. l'

Patented Apr.' 23, 1935 PATENT OFFICE oxrDIzEn ASPHALT Earle W. Gard'and Blair G. Aldridge, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 8, 1931, Serial No. 542,998

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating petroleum oils, and in particular to the production of oxidized or air-blown asphalts. A

The use of air and steamlin varying proportions has been used for many years and is well known in the art of producing 'oxidized asphalt. By varying the proportions of air and steam, the quality of the asphalt may be changed slightly. The time required to blow down the petroleum oil to the required specification varies from ,18 to 36 hours, depending upon the character of the original stock. and the character of the final product. Generally, the higher the API gravity of the charging stock, the longer the time required for the process to bring thestock to the desired characteristics.

In the processes now in use it is impossible to obtain a high melting point asphalt, 250 F. and above, with a penetration of over 15 and a ductility of overl cm. at 77 F. The melting point, penetration and ductility, are not independently variable. If the melting point is increased, the penetration is decreased and the ductility decreased. This is due to the fact that the methods used cause some of the asphalt to become overoxidizled and part to beA under-oxidized. This is due to the fact th t certain of the constituents are more retracto y, Lie., oxidize slower than others. The air passes through the oil `in large globules and is not mixed intimately with all of the oil. The rate of oxidation must be fairly slow or the temperature of the oil will rise too high, with a resultant low yield and poor quality of asphalt. In processes atvhere oil is mixed with air in a tube, the rate of oxidation is not coritrolled, and consequently the oxidation is not uniformand the same evils result.

It is an object of our invention tovcontrol the melting point, penetration and ductilityso as to vary them independently, andit will make asphalts ofany vdesired speciilcations,

It is a further object of our invention to control the oxidation of the oil to produce asphalt so as to obtain a uniformly evenly oxidized oil, the

intermingling of.. the oil and oxygen, to regulate,l

the rate of reaction, and to control the character of the oxidation. i

It is a further object; of our invention to esl tablish an equilibrium relationship between the oilto be oxidized and the oxygen-containing gas,

whereby maximum eillciency of oxidation is obtained, and to remove the gaseous and vaporous reaction products from the system so that oxygen 5 at optimum concentrations may act on theoil in i;

process.

It is a further object of our invention to controlthe oxidation of the oil so as to partially oxidize the oil by`contact`ing it with oxygen-containing. gas to produce substantially complete use ofthe air under controlled conditions and to remove the gaseous and vaporous reaction products and to i. e., the oil and air, so as to maintain the reactj ing products at a controlled temperature during reaction.v

It is a further object' of our invention to cause the intimate commngling of the oil and air for a predetermined length of time under controlled temperature and to separate the vaporous and gaseous products and to repeat the process in, recurring Acycles of operation until a product of desired quality is obtained.

Other objects will appear from the description of the preferred embodiment of our process appearing below.

We have found that in order to obtain asphalts of highunelting point which will have high ductility and desired penetration, it is necessary to produce an intimate mixture of the oil to be oxidized and the oxygen-containing gas, such as air, so that all parts of the oil are simultaneously exposed to the action of the air. It is also 11esirable to maintain the air in intimate contact with the oil so that the oxygen of the air is consumed as much as possible. This promotes efficiency in the use 'of air and also permits the more refractory components of the oil to be oxidized. These componentsneed more time, since they oxidize much slower. During this reaction anincrease in the temperature occurs, and provision should be made to control the temperature to prevent over-oxidation. This, it will be found, necessitates, under most circumstances, -an yab,- straction of heat, except when very hard as'- phalts are desired, heat may be added. It is recognized that in the methods now employed,I where air is blown through the oil, that some y cooling by contact with the cold air necessarily results. But this incidentalv and uncontrolled cooling is far removed from the present controlled cooling. Additionally, in order to get any amount of cooling so much excess air must' be used as to result in over-oxidation and uncontrolled oxidation and a rise in temperature due to oxidation which counterbalances the cooling eiect and actually heats the oil. The iinal eiect of the air is to actually heat the oil, for in every case the heat of oxidation more than offsets the cooling eiect of the injected cold air. We have also found that the products of the reaction should be removed so that the partially oxidized com' ponents may be again contacted with fresh air.

The process and apparatus will beJbetter understood by reference to the drawing which contains a more or less schematic embodiment of the apparatus. Fig. 1 is a. flow view of the apparatus with parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B on Fig. l.

I is a cylindrical still for containing the bulk supply of oil.

4 is a valve connecting'charging-line 2 with the internal charging line 3 for charging still I.

5 is a second charging line andy 8 a valve in lines. v

1 is a jet mixer in which the oil and air or steam are intimately mixed before being passed through exchanger 9.

8 ls an equilibrium conduit inv which the oxi-- dation of the oil takes place.

8 is an exchanger of which the equilibrium conduit is a part vand is used` for cooling or heating the oil during its passage therethrough.

I0 is a return pipe extending through the shell of the still I connecting conduit 8 with still I.

I I is a separating pan over which the oil passing from I0 is distributed so that vapors and air can be released.

I2 is a baille plate in still I extending across the bottom 'of the still to form two compartments in the bottom of the still.

I3 is the suction line of pump I4 extending to the' bottom of still I.'

I4 is, preferably, a centrifugal type of pump usedto circulate the oil from the still through the exchanger 9 and equilibrium conduit 8."

I3 is a shaft connected to electric motor I5 for driving pump I4. f' L I1 is a discharge linefrom pump I4 tomixer 1.

I8 is a section of pipe connected to valve I9 for admitting air or steam into mixer 1.

t 20 is a section of pipe connected to valve 2I 'for transmitting heating and cooling media to or from equilibrium conduit 8 and exchanger 9. 23 is a section of pipe connected t o valve 22 for transmitting heating and cooling media,l such as steam, oil or air, to and from exchanger 3 and equilibrium conduit 8.1 It is obvious that instead of using a jacketed pipe any other type of cooling coil may be employedas, for instance, an

aerial cooler including means vfor regulating the l ilow of air over the coil 8.

n34 is a discharge pipe containing valve 33 lto be used in discharging oil from still I to storage.

24 are pipe sections containing clean-out plugs 241 and used to connect the vapor lines 21 and .25 and to the shell of still I. 'W28 is a section of pipe connected to vapor line 23 is a slide valve positioned in the extreme bottom of baille plate I2 to allow oil to ilow from one s ide to the otherof baille plate I2 through opening 291.

38 is a rod connected to slide valve 29 and valve lever 3| so that slide valve 29 may be open vor closed. l

-back into still I.

' 24 to vapor pipes 26 and 21.

35 is a valveinsteam agitation spider '31 connected to steam supply line 33.

38 is a valve positioned between pipe I8 and equilibrium conduit 8, which is to be closed when discharging oil through valve 33 and pipe 34.

40 is a section of pipe connected 'to valve 4I, A which is in turn, connected to the bottom of still I and is to be used as a pump-out or drain line.

42 is al valve in bottom agitation spider` 43. 44 is connected to steam and air supply lines. 35 are electric leads to motor I5. 45 is the heater or rebox positioned under still I f r supplying external heat tothe still.

6 is a burner for supplying heat to Lthe heater or ilrebox 45.

41 is a manhole for cleaning the still. A hydrocarbon oil, or preferably a residuum from such an oil obtained by distilling of! the volatile oils from crude oil, is charged into line 5, through valve 8 and mixer 1 and line I1, then through pump I4 and line I3 into still I. 'Ihe .oil may also be charged directly to the still I is started and the oil in still I is forced through line I1, mixer 1, then through equilibrium conduit' 8 of exchanger 3, where it is heated by any heating medium, such as steam or hot oil, entering line 28 and valve 2I and exiting through valve 22 and line 23, valve 38 being open. The oil then ows through line I0 onto separating pan II and Slide valve 29,*located in baille plate If and operated by connecting link 38, connected to handle 3| which is supported by fulcruxn 32 attached to shell of -still I, is opened during the heating-up period. The fire under still I is lighted and the oil is additionally heated by the gases of combustion in rebox 45. The oil is circulated Vand additional material is introduced through valve 8. As soon as therequired amount of oil, about 300 barrels, is charged tofthe still, valve `8 is closed and about 200 cu. it. of air per minute is admitted through valve I3 and line I3 into mixer 1. The oil is now circulating at the rate of between 1500 and 2000 bbl. per hour by pump I4. This rate oi' air admission is-continued until the oil inthe still I reaches a temperature of around 300 F. This should require about one hour. The air is then increased to 300 cu. ft. per minute and continued at this rate until the oil reaches a temperature of 500 F. This`should require about four hour's. A small amount of top steam is put in through line 39, valve 3l and agi'- tation spider 31, as soon as' the oil reaches 300 l". I'he amount of steam -is varied, depending upon the specifications to be met, as will be described below. The -vapors and steam Aleave' `the still through vapor line 28 and connections 28 and 21. Slide 'v alve 29 is closed as soon as the still has been properly charged and circulation estabflow over baille that we are able to use about half the amount.

tion and avoids a gas-locked or air-bound pump. Steam agitation may be used in the bottom spider during the entire run to augment circulation in the still, and it is generally increased after the oil reaches 500 F. This steam distillation is used at this stage to control the flash of the stock, as will be described'below. This may require one hour. The rate of circulation of the oil through exchanger 9 and equilibrium conduit 8 may be controlled by valve 38` or by varying the speed. of the pump I4 through shaft I6 and motor I 5. The `cooling medium, such as steam, oil or air, in exchanger 9, may be circulated at any desired amount to obtain the proper amount of cooling by heat exchange out of contact with the reacting materials. When the oil has been brought down to desired grade it may be left in thel still until needed or pumped or drained out through line 40 and valve 4I, or it may be pumped out by pump I4 through the discharge line 34 and valve 33 after valve 38,'va'lve I0 and valve 6 have been closed. In either method of removing the oil, slide valve 29jxriust beopened so that all of the oil can be removed.

We prefer'to use a slight vacuum in the vapor the `circulating pump is started and the oil is circulatedat a high rate through the exchanger and back into the still. The heating medium is passed through the exchanger and the still is red. until `the oil reaches 500". F. Air is forced or drawn into the oil just before it enters the exchanger and equilibrium conduit. The amount of air is regulated sothat the oil rises in temperature to about 500 F.' As an example, oil circulated by the pump at 1500 to 2000 bbls. -per hour; air is admitted at the rate of 200 cu. ft. per minute until the oil reaches 300 F. The air is then increased to 300 cu. ft. per minute until the oil has attained a maximum of 500 F. As soon as the oil reaches this temperature, the fire is put out under the still and suflicient cooling medium is circulated in the exchanger and equilibrium 'conduit to keep;

the temperature ofthe oil ,being processed below 500 F. Hot or cold mater, or oil, or steam of controlled pressure and temperature, or air, may be used to control the temperature inthe conduit. 'I'helength of pipe inthe exchanger and equilibrium conduit and the circulation of oil and the airinputris suchthat the` oxygen of the air-is substantially used up before the oil is' returned to the still where the air and gases and light vapors Y are removed. 'Ihe oil is circulated very rapidly and thus all parts of the oil are kept in intimate contact with the air at practically all times. 1-We have discovered that generally allow temperature should be used in such processes, so that a superior product may be produced. 'This temperature should beas far below `500 F.' asit is possible to carry'it'. If the temperature .beraised to too high a degree. considerable distillatiomof the lighter fractionswill take place and the stock willl attain the proper penetration before the desired melting point is reached. This is -due to' the removal of the light fractions which oxidize to a more plastic materialthan the heavy fractions. By using 'the equilibrium conduit a minimum of airis usedrso now used in other processes. We have also discovered that by using rapid circulation and the controlled amount of air and the carefully reguylated temperature in the exchanger and equilibrium conduit, the running. time is reduced to half that now regularly required in the other systems.

Steam may be admitted during the process through agitation spider 43. This aids to insure circulation of the oilin the still and in obtaining the right flash point for the product. Steam may also be admitted, either throughout or towards the end of the process, through spider 31 to aid in obtaining the proper ash and ductility. This will be understood by those skilled in the art. 'I'he vapors and gases are withdrawn through line 28 as previously described, preferably under light suction.

' Steam may also be admitted through line I9 together with air so as to control the rate of oxidation and also to control vthe ductility and flash. It will be observed that the apparatus can be also very effectively used as a process for making steam-blown asphalt. In this case no air is admitted and a heating medium is circulated through 9. This insures an .intimate mixture of asphalt and steam and a controlled distillation of high efilciency. No air is used when steam-blown asphalt is produced.l The process is, therefore, of

For purposes of definition, hefgeneral phase op-- erating gas will be intended to cover both phases ofthe lgeneraliired invention. It is, of course, of

primary importance in producing air-blown asphalt and of importance also in steam distillation.

It will be observed that many variations of the above procedure'can be made without departing from the spirit of the-invention. Thus. the cooling can beobtained by cooling the oil in the still I by passing the coolingmedium through a coll in the still. The agitation of the oil inthe still may be by circulation byia mechanical means, or by injection of an inert gas, or bythe air used inthe process. The conduit can= be positioned either within the still or infan external heating zone, such as a furnace, orfthe oil may be withdrawn from the still, passed througlna cooler and then sent through the conduit 8 before it is introduced into the still. In each case the oil in conduit l, o n'its reaction with'air, is not allowed to exceed a predetermined temperature. While the pre- .cooling ofthe oil before introduction of the oil.

preferred'. It is believedv that of these methodsl for accomplishing this,'i. e. coolin'g the coil itself or cooling the ou m son iV whexitheizou s is 1m-v mersed in still I, the former is preferred. It is 'believed that the construction illustrated in the drawing isthefmost advantageous.-

We have discovered thatby properly controlling the heat-'air-steam, time and rate of circulation, =a wide variationof melting point, penetrations of .over-oxidize'd or' under-oxidized material. The proces is more economical to operate than any other. We have been ableto use approximately 50% or less air than in the present systems. We have been able to reduce `the running time approximately 50% or'more.v By operation, according'to our invention. the yield of oxidized asphalt is increased. We have been able to produce any grade of oxidized material by an even control of air-steam-heat and rate of circulation. and to produce an oxidized material with the production of practically no carbon in the still.

It has been found possible tov obtain an oxidized asphalt as high as 375 F. melting point, with a ductility of l cm. or better. This has heretofore been an impossibility. We have produced asphalts up to 375 F. melting point, with a penetrat-ion of as high as 5 cm. at I77" F. and a ductility of from 0.5 to 2 cm. at 77 F. We have made asphalts varying from 250 xto 350 F. with penetrations varying from 15 to 10 cm. at 77 F. and ductility varying from 6 to 1 cm. at 77 F. We havev made asphalts varying from liquid asphalts to those of melting point of 250 F., penetration as high as 15 at 77 F., and with ductility as low as 1 to 6 cm. at 77 F. for asphalts having' melting points in the neighborhood of 250 F. Such results have heretofore never been achieved and are occasioned by our scientific control of the oxidizing reactionlor different .types of initial charging stock.

Whenever melting point is mentioned, it is to be interpreted as measured by the A. S. T. M.

method D3624, also disclosed in the Kansas City Testing Laboratory Bulletin No. 25, page 641. Whenever penetration is mentioned, it is to be interpreted as measured by the A. S. T. M. method D-5-25.' also described in the Kansas City Testing Laboratory Bulletin No. 25, pages 686 and 687. Whenever ductllity is mentioned, it is to be interpreted as measured by the A. S. T. M. method D-l13-26'T, also described in the Kansas City Testing Laboratory Bulletin No. 25, page 688. V

We claim:

An oxidized asphalt produced from a naphthehic base crude oil by oxidation of fractions thereof which asphalt has a melting point of approximately 375 to 300 F. and a penetration of from 1o to 15 and a ductincy of .5 to 2 cm. at

EARLE W. GARD. BLAIR G. ALDRIDGE. 

